“I’ve had victims who don’t want their property back because its been contaminated by someone else,” he said. “Sometimes, they even want to move.”

Crime rose 19 percent in the city from March to April. Driving the increase was a 47 percent spike in burglaries of vehicles, commercial property and residences.

Rockford police shared the latest crime data with the public at its monthly CompStat meeting Wednesday at the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 315 N. Main St.

CompStat analyzes crime trends and data to support deployment of officers and other resources.

Crime is down 12 percent — comparing Jan. 1 to April 30 to the same period in 2013 — but Deputy Chief Lori Sweeney cautioned the three district commanders that won’t be the case if any parts of the city see prolonged spikes in homicides, aggravated battery/shots fired, robbery, burglary and auto theft.

District 1 is defined from the Rock River to the city’s western limits; District 2, the Rock River to 20th Street; and District 3, 20th Street to the Boone County line.

Police described several of the burglaries as crimes of opportunity; garage doors were left open or storage sheds unlocked, giving criminals quick access to lawn mowers, bicycles, power tools and other valuables.

Hopkins said many of the burglaries occurred overnight and were most likely committed by individuals who steal to support a drug habit.

“And some do it because they don’t work,” he said. “I’ve had a burglar tell me, ‘You’ve got your job, and I’ve got mine’.”

Police also said they have seen a lull in residential burglaries after the arrests this month of Brandon Bowles, 22, and Peter Papas, 53,in connection with multiple burglaries in the city. Both are being in the Winnebago County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Districts 1 and 2 also saw 72 percent and 105 percent increases, respectively, in burglary to motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles.

In several of the auto thefts, police said, victims left their vehicles unlocked with the keys inside and the motor running.

“The citizens could help,” Sweeney said. “That’s an easily preventable crime. There’s enough technology out there that you can start your car without putting the key in it.”